India in Champions Trophy

Indian performance in the Champions Trophy has been top class. Almost in every cricket tournament, they played well and in 2002, they shared the trophy with Sri Lanka.

1998 – Bangladesh
India was terrific when it defeated Australia by 44 runs. Behind this victory was Little Master Sachin Tendulkar who smashed 141 in 128 balls and also picked up four wickets while bowling. However, in the semifinal against the West Indies, India lost by six wickets. Tendulkar could not fire and although Sourav Ganguly and Robin Singh made half-centuries, it was not enough.

2000 – Kenya
India crushed Kenya by eight wickets. Kenya made 208 while making first which achieved reached easily, helped by the half-centuries of Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. In the quarter finals, India faced Australia. India scored 265, powered by Yuvraj Singh’s knock of 84 in 80 balls. When batting second, Australia was bundled for 245. Playing against South Africa in the semi-finals, India made 295 runs. Batting second, the South Africans battery was discharged with 200 runs on board. Ganguly played a big role in this win. He scored an unbeaten 142-ball 141 complete with 11 fours and six sixes.

In the final, India met New Zealand. Ganguly again scored century. Supported by Tendulkar, they put a good total on board. But Kiwis surpassed them, powered by an unbeaten swashbuckling century by Chris Cairns.

2002 - Sri Lanka
India shared cricket trophy with Sri Lanka after the rains ruined the final. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh performed well in the rain-interrupted final. Zaheer Khan grabbed 3-44 on the first day and spinner Harbhajan Singh took 3-27 on the second day of the final. However, India never got a chance to bat. India had defeated South Africa in a closely fought semi-final. Virender Sehwag made half-century in his own style and also took three wickets later. India had also trounced England and Zimbabwe in pool matches.

2004 – England
Pakistan blocked India’s path in the pool stage itself. The top order collapsed and India could make only 200. Irfan Pathan, who took 3-34, tried his best but runs on board were simply not enough. Earlier, they had beaten Kenya by 98 runs.

2006 – India
India lost to Australia despite half-centuries by Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. They capitulated to West Indies by three wickets even though keeper MS Dhoni (51) and Rahul Dravid (49) batted well. However, Indians succeeded in defeating England when three-wicket hauls by both Munaf Patel and Ramesh Powar saw England limited to 125. India easily overcame this total.